The guy was extremely underrated and in typical Randy Carlyle fashion, underused and unappreciated.

I'm not going to pretend that he was the guy to make or break a team, and by no means would he score 30, 20, even 10 goals in a season, but he was more than that.

Starting off the 2009-2010 season, he was by and far at his best. He was playing hard and skating well. During a time when the team was struggling, he was one of the players who stood out by giving more than 100 percent.

When Carter was introduced to the NHL lineup during the Ducks' run to the Cup in 2007, he flew under the radar. But when he stepped in the following season for an injured Samuel Pahlsson , he turned up the volume on his NHL career.

If it weren't for freak accidentafter freak accident, Carter might have found a more stable role on the Ducks' roster. Unfortunately, injuries set him back and he was often found on the healthy scratch list.

I don't think many people would stop and say that Carter was on the top of their list in terms of skill and talent, and unless you walked by me, it was rare sight to see his jersey in the stands. He will now have the opportunity to make the most of a new situation.

The guy who was called upon to fill the holes in the line up, was never given the chance to make his job regular.

As a Carter fan, I hope he gets picked up by a team that will use him wisely.

He's worth way more than the Ducks ever gave him credit for, and I'm sad to see him go.

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Hershey Bears win the Calder Cup 6.14.2010

The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup for the second year in a row beating the Texas Stars 4-0 Monday night completing the most successful season in American Hockey League history.

Inaugural Blog and some news 6.13.2010

June 2010

In the 2009 - 2010 season there only remains one major league to crown a champion. It has been another great year of hockey for everyone and I'm sure most people are ready for a break. Most people do not even know that hockey is still going in the middle of June but there are a couple great battles and games to watch while you're re-spooling your rod. Although Chicago and Philly just ended the NHL playoffs last week there are two teams left in the AHL finals that has yet to be decided.

The American Hockey league will rap up its finals this week. After going down in the first 2 games the Hershey Bears out of PA (Washington Affiliate) has rattled off 3 hard fought road victories against the Texas Stars in Texas. Game 6 is back in Hershey on Monday June 14th. The Bears are looking to repeat as Calder Cup Champions and can rap it up with a victory. Here is a inside look of the playoffs from one of Hershey's top forwards Andrew Gordon. Gordon played for St. Cloud State from 2004-2007.

Other news:

As most of you might know by now White Bear Lake's own Justin Braun signed with the San Jose Sharks. Braun had a great career at Umass becoming the seventh player to become an All-American making the second team in the east division. Justin was drafted in the 7th round 201st overall in the 2007 NHL entry draft.

Former WBL coach Bill Butters has been named assistant coach for the Wisconsin Badgers.